Key fastener



G. A. HAGAN KEY FASTENER Aug. 1, 1950 Filed May 16, 1949 'A. HAGAN GERTRUDE Zhwentor IHML/ Patented Aug. 1, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEY FASTENER Gertrude A. Hagan, Bremerton, Wash. Application May 16, 1949, Serial No. 93,526

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a key fastener for retaining keys in doors and, more particularly, is a key clamping mechanism that may be mounted to depend from a door knob to grip a key by its shank and to, on occasion, precludes turning of the key.

Among the various objects of the invention have been the provision of key fastener that is simple to construct and easy to attach in operating position on a door knob; that is simple to use to retain a key but can quite easily be placed in an inoperative condition when desired; that is adapted to retain a, key from accidentally or intentionally being removed from a look as when the door is slammed or tampering occurs from the opposite side but at the same time can be turned or prevented from turning with but a simple adjustment of a single part.

These and other objects are obtained as set forth in the following specification which, when taken in view of the accompanying drawings, fully disclose the invention of the subjoined claim. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows an edge view of fragment of a door showing my key fastener in place thereon;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a key fastener in the gripping position; and

Figure 3 is a, face view of the key fastener with portions broken away for convenience of illustration.

In Figure 1 is shown a door I which has mortised therein the lock mechanism [2 of the type employing the usual latch and bolt elements. On either side of the door are outstanding shanks I 4 which support a knob IS. A key having a shank and an eye 22 is introduced into the lock mechanism from the side of the door underneath the shank Id.

The key fastener shown as a whole in Figure 2 includes a pair of concave-convex sheet metal legs 24 which are joined at a common end of each by a strap loop 25 which is preferably formed of springy material to bias the legs apart. The loop 24 has a pressed-in ridge 21 to reinforce and stiffen the loop.

Between the legs and the loop, the legs are necked down slightly at v28 so that in cross-section at the junction, the width from outside of one leg to the outside of the opposite leg, is less than nearer the ends of the legs.

A disc collar 30, having a slight flange dutstanding on one face around the opening, is slipped over the legs 24 to hold them pressed together against the bias imparted from the loop 26. The size of the opening of collar 30 is such that when it encircles the middle portion of the legs, they are closely pressed together but when it encircles the legs in the necked down portions 28, the legs may spread slightly as shown in Figure 3.

,Each leg has a series of notches 34 which engage'around the shank 20 of the key close enough to'prevent it moving along its axis but not so tight as to prevent it being manually turned to lock or unlock the door.

Collar 30 carries depending from one side the prong 40 which can be introduced into the eye 22 f the key when the collar is slid down the legs. The prong 40 in such position prevents the keyfrom turning, as when it would be tampered with through the door from the other side and from being turned as by a child from the side of the door on which the key is inserted.

I have found that by forming the legs and loop in the manner shown and described, a rigid structurecan be evolved even though light gauge sheet metal is employed. Such a key fastener has a long and useful life under normal conditions and will prevent loss or displacement of keys even though doors are slammed, children play around them, or they are tampered with.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A key fastener, comprising: a pair of rigid clamping legs to straddle the shank of a key and joined at one end by an integral outwardly biased spring loop of a size to encircle the shank of a door-knob overlaying said key shank, said loop being biased to cause said legs to normally spread apart, said legs having opposed notches to closely fit around a key shank when they are pressed together and being necked adjacent their junction with said loop, and a collar mounted on said legs for retaining them tightly about a, key shank and slidable along said legs to move into said necked portion to permit them to spread slightly to unclamp a, key shank, said collar having a depending horn positioned to enter the eye of key being gripped by said legs to prevent rotation of said key.

GERTRUDE A. HAGAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 269,468 Rounds Dec. 19, 1882 598,229 Norris -l Feb. 1,v 1898 718,273 McLellan Jan. 13, 1903 763,793 Pickert June 28, 1904 1,452,646 Loveland Apr. 24, 1923 2,042,891 Galley June 2, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 279,335 Great Britain Oct. 27; 1927 

